Bishops reject new civil code

A new civil code hastily approved by the chamber of deputies in Argentina is not supported by the Church, according to a lawyer working on behalf of the bishops, writes Isabel de Bertodano.

Juan Navarro Floria said the bishops objected to various points of the new code, such as quick divorces. Other points, not yet passed, have also been rejected by the bishops, including embryo selection, assisted reproduction, fertilisation using eggs or sperm from the deceased and surrogacy. Mr Navarro also said the first part of the code, which was approved last Wednesday, had not been allowed sufficient debate and had been pushed through by the Government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.